Florida Tribe: Will Grow Marijuana If State Doesn't Grant Casino Compact

A Native American tribe that has land in the state of Florida wants to build a casino in the Sunshine State and if it doesn’t eventually get the OK, it says it will grow marijuana on its land instead, according to a report from WTSP.com. That’s reportedly in the form of a threat.

Marijuana is still considered an illegal substance by the U.S. government. Florida hasn’t joined the list of states with favorable marijuana laws.

The federal government has taken a strong position against pot growing on tribal lands.

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians already have a couple of casinos within the state of Alabama, and it wants to join the the Seminole and Miccosukee tribes for Florida gambling. The Creeks are eyeing a casino in the Florida Panhandle on land it owns in Escambia County.

It reportedly has already started preliminary construction.

The Creeks have been in talks with the state of Florida for a compact that would let it build the casino and offer gambling, but there’s one problem: The Creek tribe purportedly doesn’t have the necessary status with the federal government to allow for a Florida gaming compact.

“It is premature for Florida to engage in any compact negotiations until PBCI (Poarch Band of Creek Indians) obtains an Indian lands determination from United States Department of the Interior,” the office of Florida’s governor said.

Florida has been for years flirting on and off with the idea of allowing giant commercial casino developers to come in and build casino-resorts in the state. Existing tribal gaming, as well as push back from the likes of Disney, have stalled those plans indefinitely.

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